Not much point to this post other than to say how mightily impressed I was today at my first visit to Al,
I can see why he gains his legendary status, rebuilt half my wheel, two cups of coffee, some good banter and all for the shockingly low price of £8! How does he make a living!
I know where I'll be going for all my future wheel related requirements. If you're in central Scotland and go elsewhere for wheels, you need your head examined.
G
Yeah, remember when i bought some hope brakes of him years and years ago ( shockingly low price as well), walked into his shop, spoke to the bloke on the counter who shouted through to Al in the back. He just asked me to come round and his workshop was the messiest place ever, wheels everywhere etc. I told him i was here for my brakes and he pointed to this pile of stuff on a shelf and said 'its in there somewhere, just rummage about'. Sure enough in between chris king headsets, hope hubs, boxes of quality stuff were my brakes. I liked the trusted friendly service involved and personalisation to the visit
still got a Sun Rhyno wheel built onto some old school shimano hub. getting on for 12 years old now. Retired but still true 🙂
All my wheels are built by Al, my lbs for years. I've some stories, like the time I called for a set of tyres and ended up running his mother to Kilmarnock (60 mile round trip). When I dropped her off I got invited into the house for tea and cake with a large group of old biddies. Most off-beat evening of my life. She later gave me a jar of very tasty home made marmalade as thanks for the 'taxi'.
That doesn't happen when you go to Alpine bikes.
Wheelcraft, the tardis.
Absolute diamond.
When I was a rep for Wheelcrafts area I used to lose hours of my life poking around Als shop, making minature spokes with his Phil Wood machine, drinking syrup like coffee and just generally listening in awe to his awesome ramblings and stories.
He is a true legend. The guys and girls in the office love him too as he often over pays invoices so we can go and get ice creams!!!
Richie
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That guy is ace. went out for a ride with a mate and my drivetrain was making a racket (dry chain). So i went in for some lube, we left an hour or so later after bullshiting with him in the backroom on his buckled chair. All the while he and his young apprentices built wheels with unbelievable attention to detail. We were also completely buzzing after the coffee. Oh and my mate got some long discontinued cleats he'd given up on. Sweet little place.
He is near identical in mannerisms and ability to take a conversation on a wild tangent as my local artisan wheelbuilder. Who i thought was a one off. Must be staring at spinning rims all day!
He is a star, didn't realize he's still in business. Last time I dropped in was a good 10 years ago, and even then I was sure he'd retire soon - especially given how I couldn't see how he made money! As with above poster, I have a single-speed rear wheel, and a XTR-hub front wheel, on two separate bikes, still being used every year as my spare bikes.
I do recall he told me I was a poser for wanting an XTR hub - he reckoned I should save the money and just go XT. Too true, and how many shops would downsell you rather than upsell? I went for the XTR anyway, because I am a poser.
--Kristan
hora: I'm not sure which colour Chris King to go for.
Al: Your having blue laddy.
😆
Who needs advertising in glossy mags when you get featured in an Oor Wullie cartoon. 😆
Nice start to the day with a positive LBS story for a change. Excellent
Yeah, i stil wish he was my local wheelbuilder, but a 500 mile round trip might be a bit extreme!
My LBS.
Al is a total legend.
Just don't ask for black spokes.
Yeah, i stil wish he was my local wheelbuilder, but a 500 mile round trip might be a bit extreme!
Ditto.
mmmhhh I live just to the south of glasgow and had never heard of this guy....might just have to pop in for a visit
26 miles each way
looking for a general service for the bike and a check on the health of wheels...is it worth it?
Yeah, i stil wish he was my local wheelbuilder, but a 500 mile round trip might be a bit extreme!
He made my wheels for me when I lived in Ireland. Was a good excuse to come over for a wee MTB trip.
looking for a general service for the bike and a check on the health of wheels...is it worth it?
Jump on your bike, follow the Clyde and the Kelvin and your 60-70% there. Via Mugdock/Strathblane is an option also. Lots of tuck in the shop or a cafe next door for refueling. Plus a downhill ends at the back of the shop.
Plus a downhill ends at the back of the shop.
More importantly, where does it start!
enduro-aid, hes a character and worth it IMO. I still remember our conversation and I also remember at the time he had a bloody breakin/lots of nice kit stolen 🙁
If he had mail order etc he'd be my preferred first call. However I dont think he likes the internet 😆
" I dont think he likes the internet "
Big Al is now on Facebook!
He does do mail order - in that an old cyclist will randomly appear on your doorstep stating "Al said these are for you."
More importantly, where does it start!
Car park, Crow Road. Or if you're really ambitious, Cort ma Law (spelling may be incorrect).
Car park, Crow Road. Or if you're really ambitious, Cort ma Law (spelling may be incorrect).
Is it just the bit between the Crow Road car park, down through Campsie Glen and into Clachan, or the whole route I've mapped here:
Just don't ask for black spokes
LOL - I've had that argument on several occasions. I have a very nice Hope hub laced to a sun singletrack rim which has never been used because when I went back to the shop he'd laced it with stainless spokes and claimed he'd "forgotten", despite writing it down in his order book!
I did use it a couple of times, but it offends my aesthetic sensibilities to have a black hub and silver spokes, even though it's probably the best wheel I own.
Hes superb! I didnt know he was in Oor Wullie as well... Great find!
My first visit years ago, he got me to deliver a crackin set of wheels to some guy in Darvel, he had never met me before, very trusting. I bought two sets of wheels that are still going strong and his coffee and stories are legendary.
Top man!
My lbs and being going to him for years. I wouldn't go anywhere else for wheels.
I remember the time when I was in Wheelcraft and a young lad came in on his mountain bike and asked Al to build him a nice set of light XC/race wheels. The lad had been saving up his paper round money and the wheels would have skinted him. Al took one look at him and suggested that to save weight for a race he should go for a dump before the start and save his money.
Still makes me chuckle.
glynP - Member
My first visit years ago, he got me to deliver a crackin set of wheels to some guy in Darvel, he had never met me before, very trusting. I bought two sets of wheels that are still going strong and his coffee and stories are legendary.
Top man!
Ha! Just reminded me- he took my order over the phone. I asked if he wanted paying 'no send me payment in the post when you receive the wheels' (I said sure etc- he said I sounded right/trustworthy).
Legend.
I got some wheels made up by Al and being a bit of a girl I asked if I could get girlie coloured rims, I was promptly told to climb the ladder to the loft and pick what I wanted. It was an Aladdins cave up there. I didn't dare ask for black spokes tho!
Any idea of how much he'd charge for a pair of hope hubs on Mavic XM719 rims?
"And CLOSE THE DOOR to keep the mdgies out!!!!!"
🙄
BoardinBob: less than CRC!
Al is an absolute legend! I told him I wanted a set of super strong DH wheels last spring (I made the mistake of asking for black spokes - to which I was politely told to go somewhere else if I wanted them!!) and he built me a set of pro2s on 729s with some mental tandem spokes. I genuinely could not believe what I paid in the end for them - I felt like I was robbing the guy! He told me to do my best to bend or break them and that if i could he would build me some more for free!
I have ridden the wheels very hard over the past 18 months with a week in the Alps at Morzine & Les Gets, probably 20 runs at ft. bill, countless days at innerleithen +++++ and the wheels are still as straight and true as the day I collected them!
Not oly did I get to sample the treacle like coffee but I was also offered spaghetti on toast as it was 'tea time'!!! Legend!!!
I was speaking to him about a new set of wheels for my road bike and here's what he said, "if you want to spend serious money, you know Hope hubs and aero rims then it might be as much as £350".
Try having that conversation in any other bike shop and see if you get change from a grand.
Enduro-aid, absolutely worth the trip, suggest taking some biscuits and some cash. Plus some lights to get you home if you end up talking as long as I did!
G
boardinbob-
Crikey, you're a bit keen to fit a route in! The'backdoor' downhill is only a side attraction to be honest, though from the car park to the shop is a fair downhill. The Campsies are pretty boggy in places.
Some of the road riding is great - the Tak Me Doon/Crow Road loop is tops in the area.
On balance, the shop is enough of an experience for any Wheelcraft virgin in one day.
Legend. Only problem with Big Als is you cannot just 'pop in' to pick up your wheels, you need to hang around for at least an hour. '[i]Hullo stranger, where you working now, you been eating all the pies, when I worked in the foundary, did I tell you the time I was travelling around Australia..........'[/i]
I also love his phone manner Al 'Hullo' pause, nothing... me'Is that Wheelcraft' 'it might be, who's asking'
I also think he forgets about cars nowadays too.
I was in one time when some bloke, who had obviously stepped out of his car, came in and asked about building some wheels.
1st thing Al said was 'Where you from', 'Falkirk' the guy replied. 'Jeez that's a fair way you must be starving, there's coffee in the pot and help yourself to a mars bar, or I could make you a tin of beans if you wanted'